Pune Rains: Kharadi Residents Blame PMC After Floodwaters Enter Homes, Cite ‘Complete Mismanagement’
Kharadi, 27th May 2025: Heavy monsoon showers over the past 48 hours have left several parts of Kharadi in Pune waterlogged, with residents blaming the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for poor drainage planning and incomplete pre-monsoon works. Ground floors of many residential societies were inundated, disrupting daily life and raising health concerns.
Frustrated locals from housing societies near Dhole Patil College and opposite Chokhi Dhani alleged that repeated complaints to civic authorities have fallen on deaf ears, and despite PMC’s claims of desilting and cleaning drainage lines, flood-like conditions continue to occur every monsoon.
“The situation in Kharadi is dire,” said Akshay Poorey, Joint Secretary of Kharadi Residents Welfare Association. “Rainwater has entered multiple homes. Entire ground floors are underwater. The area has been concretised without planning for proper drainage. There’s no scope for water percolation. Authorities approve building plans but fail to ensure civic infrastructure is in place. We’re paying taxes, yet there are power outages, trees and hoardings falling, potholes causing accidents—it’s nothing short of a nightmare.”
Yogita Amdade, a resident of Gulmohar Gold Coast in Rajaram Patil Nagar, told Free Press Journal that water accumulation in parking areas has become a yearly ordeal. “For the last two to three years, we’ve been dealing with knee-deep water, especially during work hours. It’s not just about inconvenience—stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Diseases like dengue and chikungunya are real threats,” she said. “Garbage disposal is another issue. PMC vehicles don’t reach us, and private collectors dump trash irresponsibly, clogging drains. Construction debris near riverbeds worsens the situation.”
Long-time resident Prabha Karpe recalled how a thriving pond with migratory birds had been reduced to a concrete-clogged nullah. “The natural water bodies are being filled with construction waste to make way for illegal developments. Despite multiple complaints to PMC and police, there’s been no action. We’re not just dealing with flooding—we’re witnessing the slow destruction of the local ecosystem,” she said, adding that encroachments near riverside zones had drastically increased.
In response, Jagdish Khanore, head of PMC’s drainage department, acknowledged the issue. “We’ve taken note of the affected areas. I have directed the regional ward officer to inspect and resolve the issue. Drainage cleaning work is ongoing and will be expedited,” he said.
As waterlogging incidents intensify in rapidly urbanizing areas like Kharadi, residents continue to demand not just immediate relief, but long-term planning and accountability from civic officials.
